Improved combined hook and button



UNITED STATES PATENT WILLIAM H. SHURTLEFF, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNOR IO HIMSELF AND HENRY A. CHURCH.

IMPROVED COMBINED HOOK AND BUTTON.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 55,43 l, datedJune 5, 1866.

To all whom it 'muy concern Be it known that I, WILLIAM H. SHUET- LEFF, of Providence, in the county of Provi dence andY State of Rhode Island, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Lacing Boots and Shoes and other articles of wearing-apparel; and I hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a side elevation 5 Fig. 2, a vertical section on linea b in Fig. 4. Fig. 3 isa front elevation. Fig. I a plan View, and Fig. 5 a perspective view, of a lacing button and hook constructed in accordance with this my invention. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a shoe provided with my improved lacing device.

rIhe object of this invention is to apply to shoes, boots, &c., the hook-lacing-i. e., a lacing in which one or two lacinglcords run eX- ternally zigzag fashion from hook to hook to draw the parts snugly together in such manner as to avoid the unsightly appearance of hooks, the ridges whereby the pantaloons and other articles of dress are rapidly worn, and other objections attendant upon those heretofore in use; and my invention consists in so forming the lacingstuds as that they shall combine the advantage of the button and hook-in other words, while acting as lacinghoolcs, they shall be ornamental to the shoe or boot to which they are applied, and present a smooth shielding surface to the pantaloons or other article of dress coming into frictional contact with the boot; and my invention further consists in the method herein described of fastening the button-hooks to the leather or material of which the shoe or boot is or may be made.

To enable others to make and use my invention, I shall now proceed to describe the manner in which the same is or may be performed; and, referring to the drawings, Ais the button or cap or shield, consisting of a thin brass or other metal disk struck up in dies to assume a concavoconvex form, the convex side being intended to be on the outside so as to deflect the pantaloons or other article of dress worn about the shoe or boot. With this cap or shield is connected, at el, the shank B, which is formed of a strip of metal bent under the cap and down at a point diametrically opposite to d at c. This latter portion, which is the lacing-stay proper, should be rounded offtrans versely so as to avoid frictional wear on the lacing-cord.

The third integral part of the lacing device is the disk c, which may be round or iiat, so as to adapt itself readily to the surface ot' the shoe; and with this disk are connected the prongs D, whereby, on being passed through perforations made by themselves or other instruments, they are clinched to the opposite side of the material ofthe shoe or boot.

These button-hooks are made in one piece from a Single blank, and maybe struck ol'' at two or more successive blows in suitable dies or machinery.

The manner in which these button-hooks are secured to shoes is shown in Fig. (i. They are placed in two opposite series ata short distance from and in aline parallel with the edge of the two upper portions to be laced, care being taken to place the stays B on the inner side-z'. e., on the side nearest the opening to be laced-so that the cords may run between the center of the button and the stay.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- The combination of a button with a shank secured at the periphery and bent under and down at a point diametrically opposite of the button to constitute the lacing-stay, substantially as herein shown and set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specication before two subscribing witnesses.

WM. H. SHRTLEFF.

Vitnesses: A. PoLLoK,

Jos. L. CooMBs. 

